Giant Pen Nib or Ram Rod Holder?

[John Winter]

The detectorist on the forum asked, “Is this an old writing pen? I’ve Googled it and still can’t work it out. Can anyone help me and explain where it went and what it does?”

Giant Pen Nib or Ram Rod Holder? | John Winter

 

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[Msbeepbeep]

That's a hard one. I don't know what a ram rod holder looks like but those have the little piece inside like the ink pen tips do, but it's a guess.

 

[ironhorse]

Totally a ramrod thimble from a musket; it's the terminus of the three guides that hold the ramrod under the barrel and sits against the stock

I can't imagine writing anything with it lol

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

That "little spring inside" was an addition to an entry pipe to hold metal rammers in place. Wood rammers usually have enough kink from uneven grain to hold themselves in place. May or may not be what you have IF they are entry pipes.

But I don't know that is what your image shows. They don't look like anything I am familiar with. But then I follow Pennsylvania style longrifles and not European versions. Could also be from a pistol.

 

[BosnMate]

Charlie P. used the proper terminology, it's called an "entry pipe," and is located on the muzzle loading firearm where the ramrod enters the wood on the fore stock. On a pistol there would be and additional holder near the muzzle, and the proper term for that is "thimble." A muzzle loading rifle would have two thimbles and one entry pipe.
The small flange on the pipe or thimble is use to pin the item to the wooden stock. These pieces are inlet into the wood, and then a pin through the wood and the flange holds the piece in place.

Here is an entry pipe and a thimble showing the flange.

This photos show the thimble and pipe, and the V's point out the pin going through the wood to hold them in place. In between the two V's there is a darker pin that is a
bit harder to to see. That's the pin the holds the barrel in place, and it passes through a flange on the bottom of the barrel. Hopes this helps.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

I moderator on a traditional muzzleloading website and have a couple "good" flintlocks.

This is one I own; but for a tapered wood rammer:


It is a 1760+/- style British fowling piece, by the way.

 

[BosnMate]

How come my post loaded twice?

 

[Msbeepbeep]

T Net likes you twice as much!

It happens to me sometimes but I have no idea why I just delete one post.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

How come my post loaded twice?

Deleted one...

 

[BosnMate]

T Net likes you twice as much!

LOL, thanks, I needed that.